Electromagnetic switch mechanism



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26. 1960 form INVENTOR M 7% Nov. 16, 1965 w, REBER 3,218,410

I ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR flw w Nov. 16, 1965 w. REBER 3,218,410

ELEG'IROMAGNETIG SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

INVENTOR M Ma Nov. 16, 1965 w, REBER 3,218,410

ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WM W01 United States Patent 3,213,414) ELEQTRQMAGNETHC SWITCH MEQHANTSM Walter ltel'oer, Bern, Switzerland, assignar to Hasler A.G., Bern, Switzerland Fiied Aug. 26, 196%, Ser. No. 53,585 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates to an electromagnetic switch mechanism, suitable more particularly for selection marking, and storage operations. The applications of the switch mechanism described are therefore preferably, but not exclusively, in the field of automatic telephony.

The electromagnetic switch mechanism according to the invention comprises a number of juxtaposed switch elements each of which has a rest and working position, while in the latter position an associated contact group is operated. Each switch element has a spring which is in the form of an angle-lever, and one end of which is mounted in the retaining spring of this switch element while its other end lies against the switch spring of the following switch element.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a switch mechanism of the type mentioned which can be manufactured in an efficient manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a switch mechanism of the type mentioned which is composed of interchangeable sub-assemblies adapted to be assembled with each other to form a complete switch assembly varying from each other by the selection and arrangement of the sub-assemblies.

Two embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows an illustration, in perspective, of a switch mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention, some parts not essential to the invention being omitted and other parts being broken away;

FIGURE 2 shows a plan view to FIG. 1, and

FIGURE 3 a side elevation of a complete storage device incorporating the switch mechanism according to the invention, while FIGURE 4 is a partial lateral view from the left hand side in FIG. 2, drawn to a larger scale and showing some switch units of the mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 6 is a partial lateral view from the left hand side of FIG. 5, drawn to a larger scale and showing some switch units of the mechanism.

From FIGS. l3 of the drawings herewith three main parts of the storage device can be recognised: the lower electromagnetic part being an electromagnet assembly, the middle part comprising the actual switch mechanism or mechanical control transfer assembly, and the top part which is a switch assembly comprising a bank of contact springs. The contact spring bank being the same in the two embodiments illustrated consists of eleven spring sets 31 arranged side by side, which do not differ from known constructions and which, as they are in their details not an essential part of the invention, are omitted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 6.

In the first embodiment, the electromagnetic assembly comprises two parallel magnet coils 1 and 2, a restoring armature 3 cooperating with coil 1, a switch armature d cooperating with coil 2, and a common yoke 8 on which the coils are mounted. The middle of the three component assemblies is a purely mechanical device provided for counting and storage purposes. Each two of the three component assemblies are joined together by two screws (25', 25"); the three assemblies can thus be very "ice easily Separated from one another and interchanged. Each forms an independent, compact structural unit.

The contact spring sets 31 (FIG. 3) are of conventional construction, so that no detailed description is necessary. The same also applies to the two knife-edge relays of the electromagnetic part, with the exception of the two armatures 3 and 4, which are of special construction suitable for the purpose of the invention. The restoring armature 3 has one long arm 5 and one short arm 6, which are parallel with each other and bent over approximately at right-angles relative to the armature 3. At these bends the armature 3 rests rotatably on the edge 7 of the yoke 8. Between these two arms is a middle arm 9, the bend of which is displaced downwards by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the arm 5 and which extends through a gap in the edge 7. A restoring leaf spring 1d presses on the arm 9 and tends to hold the armature 3 in a position of rest. A bearing leaf spring 11 is provided with an aperture 12, through which the middle arm 9 of the armature passes, and is adapted to prevent the armature 3 from leaving the edge 7. The long arm 5 carries on its end a cam 13 of moulded material.

The switch armature 4 is mounted similarly as the restoring armature 3, and thus has one middle arm 14 which passes through an aperture 15 of a bearing leaf spring 16 and is acted upon by the armature restoring leaf spring 17. As this armature however must operate a comb 18 which extends over practically the entire width of the storage device, it has three parallel bent arms 19, 20 and 21, the bent portions of which lie on the knifeedge 7 and the ends of the bent portions are fastened to the aforesaid comb 18. The arm 21 lies at the side of the long arm 5 of the restoring armature 3, between the latter and the bearing spring 11 (FIG. 2). The position of the two armatures in the unexcited conditioin is determined by the stop 22 (FIG. 3), against which the cam 13 and the comb l3 abut.

The middle of the three main assemblies, which constitutes the mechanical counting and storage device or mechanical control transfer assembly comprises a cover plate 23, a base plate 24 and therebetween a synthetic plastic block 25, on which bodies the operating members are mounted. It comprises a bank of individual transfer units. A retaining spring plate 26 fixed on the cover plate 23 is divided at one side (as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) in eleven holding leaf springs 27 having each a free short end part 27 which is bent downwards at right-angles. The leaf springs 27 each of which constitutes a first transfer member of a different transfer unit, have in the longer part, near their bent, a rectangular aperture 28, and the bent-over part 27', a triangular cutout 29 and a circular perforation 30. A row of pawls 32 forming a comb-like body 33 project each upwards through an aperture 28, for acting as holding means by engaging the corresponding leaf spring 27. The longitudinal back portion of the body 33 lies in an upwardly open siot 34 of the block 25 and is retained therein near both ends 33' by the two legs of a U-shaped holder 35 mounted between the block 25 and the base plate 24, which the ends 33 of body 33 project upwards to prevent the legs from slipping therefrom. A torsion spring 36 is mounted on the body 33 near one end thereof and tends to maintain each of the pawls 32 resiliently in engagement with the front edge of the respective window 2%.

Parallel to the long part of each of the holding leaf springs 27 is disposed a switch spring 37 which constitutes the second transfer member of the particular transfer unit and which is fixed at one end between the block and the cover plate 23 while the other free end bears with a slight initial tension against the upper edge 38 of the triangular cutout 29 in the leaf spring part 27. Through the circular perforation 30 of each part 27 projects one cylindrical shank 39 of a U-shaped crank-lever 40 the other shank 4-1 of which is maintained by the base plate 24 in a longitudinal recess 42 of the block 25, for partial rotation about its own axis (FIG. 4). The free end 41 of the shank 41 is bent upwards at rightangles and presses against the free end of the switch spring 37 bearing on the end part 27 of the neighboring holding leaf spring 27. The shank 39 is partially accommodated in a recess 43 of the block 25 allowing a limited turning movement about the axis of shank 4-1. The switch springs 37 lie, in the position of rest, exactly above the slots 44 in the comb 13.

Certain members, such as the holding leaf spring 27, the switch spring 37, the pawl 32, the crank lever 40, and the associated tooth 45 of the comb 125 are provided in equal members. The group comprising one of each of these members, which cooperate with one another, is being referred to as a transfer unit.

The restoring electromagnet first impulse excites the coil 1 and causes the attraction of the restoring armature 3, the cam 13 of which engages the end of the coordinate switch spring 37', lying above the cam 13, and thereby pushes the first holding leaf spring 27" upwards. The corresponding cross-piece 46 of the switch unit (FIG. 3) is thereby pushed upwards since it rests on spring 27' and operates the particular contact spring set 31 associated with it. During the armature movement, two further operations take place. The shank 39 of the crank lever 40 projecting through the perforation 30 of the first holding leaf spring 27 is raised and, as the other shank 41 can only turn axially, effects a transversal turning of its bent-up part 41', which engages the switch spring 37 of the neighboring transfer unit and moves it along the upper edge 38 of the triangular cutout 29 of the leaf spring 27. The switch spring 37" thus passes into the preparation position, as shown at X in FIG. 2, in which its free end lies above a tooth 45 of the comb 18 which constitutes an actuator means.

On the upward movement of the holding leaf spring 27 next to spring 27", the pawl 32 is pressed back against the action of the torsion spring 36. When the leaf spring has been raised sufficiently, the torsion spring 36 presses the pawl 32 forward again, so that the latter locks the leaf from below in its working position.

The following impulses pass to the operating electromagnet coil 2 and its excitation on each occasion operates the switch armature 4. On the first attraction of the switch armature 4, one tooth 45 of the comb 18 lifts by means of the switch spring 37 of the second transfer unit counting from the top in FIG. 2, which spring has been brought into preparation position by the operation of the first transfer unit, the leaf spring 27 of the same unit and thereby effects the operation of the associated contact spring set 31. By the upward movement, the leaf spring 27 presses the pawl 32 backwards and causes thereby a partial rotation of the entire pawl body 33. As a result, the locking of the leaf spring 27 of the first transfer unit is released, and the latter goes into the position of rest. Towards the end of this movement of the leaf spring 27 of the second transfer unit the row of pawls 32 can turn forwards again under the action of the pawl spring 36, and the second pawl 32 locks the associated leaf spring 27 from below in the working position. At the end of the impulse, the armature 4 drops and the comb 18 goes into its starting position, which is limited by the stop 22. During this movement of the comb 18, the switch spring 37" of the last operated, second transfer unit returns into its starting position; it is now once again above a slot 44 in the comb 18. On the further dropping of the armature 4 and of the comb 18, the switch spring 37 of the third transfer unit, which stands under the transversal tension of the free shank end 41' of the crank lever 41 of the operated second transfer unit and at first could not move because the comb 18 was raised, goes now into the preparation position, Where it lies above the associated tooth 45 of the comb 18.

On each further impulse, the same operation is repeated: the prepared transfer unit is brought by the armature movement into the working position, while the preceding transfer unit is released and the following one brought into the preparation position; the appertaining contact spring sets 31 are thereby operated and released respectively. A series of impulses thus causes the operation of one tranfer unit after the other. In FIG. 1, the seventh switch unit is shown in the Working position and the eighth in the preparation position.

The lifting operation of the last transfer unit brings the first into the preparation position, by means of a U-shaped special crank lever 47 the middle part of which is rotatably mounted between the base plate 24- and the block 25 and which operates the other special crank lever namely that, of the first transfer unit and marked 40. The next impulse arriving passes into the coil 1 and operates the restoring armature 3 and the associated restoring spring set. This may be desirable for certain purposes (for example marking in tens). Further impulses again pass into coil 2 and operate by means of the switch armature t the other ten transfer units in turn and therewith the associated contact spring sets, and so on.

From any desired counting position the return to the restored position can be effected, namely by operation of the restoring armature 3. By way of the switch spring 37 of any transfer unit being not in operative position, the armature 3 raises the associated holding leaf spring 27, which effects, by slightly turning the pawl body 33 rearwards, that any other transfer units being held in operative position will be unlocked and return to the position of rest.

For certain uses the possibility of restoring, which is included in the example described, may be dispensed with. In such cases, a switch mechanism within the scope of the invention may be provided, in which the electromagnetic assembly comprises a single coil. An embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. 5 and 6.

Since the structure and function of this second embodiment differ from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 only in a few respects, the following explanations will be restricted to these differences, while parts having been described already in connection with the first embodiment will carry the same reference numbers.

As only the switch armature 4 is provided, the comb 18 rests on the edge 7 of the yoke 8 by means of an additional supporting arm 50. The last transfer unit (at the bottom of FIG. 5) has no crank lever. Instead of it an additional basically U-shaped crank lever 51 is associated with the first transfer unit. Crank-lever 51 has at its one shank 52 an upwardly bent end part 52' for transversally engaging the projecting end of the switch spring 37 of the first transfer unit from a side which is opposite from the sides engaged by the upwardly bent ends 41 of the regular crank-levers 41B of the second to the last but one transfer unit. In the position of rest of the first transfer unit, its switch spring 37 lies above the first laterally beveled tooth 45 of the comb 18, provided that also all other transfer units are in their position of rest. On the projecting end of the crank-lever shanks 2W lies the middle portion of an additional transfer means or bow 53 having its inwardly bent ends 54 mounted between the base plate 24 and the block 25 for partial rotation. The second shank 55 of the additional crank-lever 51 is mounted for rotation about its own axis and has a cranked free end 55 which lies upon the how 53.

If any of the switch units, except the last one, is in operated position, the bow 53 will be somewhat lifted by the shank 39 of the crank-lever 40 of the operated transfer unit and will have slightly turned the cranked end 55' on the shank 55 and thereby also the upwardly bent end part 52 of the additional crank-lever 51. This end part moves the engaged switch spring 37 of the first transfer unit outwardly away from the first tooth 45 of the comb 18. When the last transfer unit is moved into operated position, the last but one simultaneously returns into the position of rest, whereby the bow 53 drops, as the last transfer unit is without crank-lever. The dropping bow 53 causes the additional crank-lever 51 to turn and to allow that the switch spring 37 of the first transfer unit return into the preparation position, wherein it lies again above the tooth 45 of the comb 18.

From the above it is evident, that the first transfer unit is in the preparation position when all other transfer units are in the position of rest (FIG. 6) or when the last transfer unit is in operated position.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic switching arrangement, comprising, in combination an independent switch assembly including a bank of contact means each independently movable between a normal and an operative position; an electromagnet assembly having a single movable operating armature and being responsive to electric impulses from an outside source of electric energy; an independent mechanical control transfer assembly operable by the movement of said armature for transmitting such movement to said contact means, said control trans fer assembly comprising a bank of individual transfer units each being cooperatively associated with a differcut one of said contact means, respectively, each of said transfer units comprising an elongated first transfer member stationarily mounted at one end and having an opposite end portion movable transversely of said bank, between a position of rest and an operative position in which it places the respectively associated contact means of said switch assembly in operative position, a second elongated transfer member stationarily mounted at one end and having an opposite end portion in engagement with a portion of said end portion of said first transfer member and movable in a direction parallel with said bank of transfer units between an ino erative and an operative position and also being movable, when in said operative position, transversely of said bank of transfer units so as to move by its movement said first transfer member to its operative position, and a crank lever having a first arm in engagement with said end portion of said first transfer member and a second arm in engagement with said end portion of said second transfer member of the next following transfer unit in said bank thereof, said crank lever being mounted tiltably for moving, when its first arm is moved by said first transfer member moving to its operative position, said second transfer member of the next following transfer unit to its operative position, and actuator means connected with said movable armature and movable thereby across the region of said end portions of said second transfer members of said transfer units, said actuator means being so shaped that by its movement only that second transfer member is moved transversely of said bank of transfer units which is placed in said operative position, whereby consecutive energization of said electromagnet means by consecutive impulses causes consecutive transfer units of said bank thereof to move from position of rest to operative position and thus to place the respectively associated contact means consecutively in operative position; and means for detachably connecting said switch assembly with said control transfer assembly and electromagnet assembly, respectively.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanical control transfer assembly comprise holding means for arresting any one of said first transfer members in said operative position thereof, said holding means comprising a row of pawls rigidly connected with one another as a pawl assembly and respectively associated with said first transfer members and located to arrestingly engage a portion of the respectively associated first transfer member, and spring means for urging said row of pawls into arresting position.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pawl assembly is tiltably mounted and wherein said pawls are normally in non-arresting engagement with said first transfer members in such a manner that movement of any one of said first transfer members to its operative position causes release of any other one of said first transfer members from its arrested position by moving said pawl assembly into non-arresting position.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanical control transfer assembly includes a first special crank lever having a first arm out of engagement with said first transfer member of the first one of said transfer units of said bank thereof, and a second arm in engagement with said end portion of said second transfer member of said first one of said transfer units, said first special crank lever being mounted tiltably for moving, when its first arm is moved in a predetermined direction, said second transfer member of said first on of said transfer units to its operative position, and a second special crank lever having a first arm engaging said end portion of said first transfer member of the last one transfer unit of said bank thereof and having a second arm engaging said first arm of said first special crank lever in such a manner that movement of said first transfer member of said last one transfer unit to its operative position causes said first special crank lever to move said second transfer member of said first one transfer unit into its operative position.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said actuator means is a bar mounted on said operating armature and extending along said bank of transfer units, said bar being formed as a comb with a plurality of cam portions and with notches separating said cam p0rtions, respectively, each cam portion and neighboring notch constituting a combination associated with a different one of said transfer units, the cam portion of such combination being positioned to engage, when said operating armature is moved by energization of said electromagnet assembly, said second transfer member of the respectively associated transfer unit only if the particular second transfer member is in its operative position, while the notch of the particular combination is positioned opposite the particular second transfer member when the latter is in its inoperative position so that in this case said movement of said operating armature cannot be transferred to said particular second transfer member.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, including an auxiliary restoring electromagnet means having a single movable restoring armature and being responsive to an impulse applied from an outside source of electric energy as a starting impulse or as a resetting impulse, a cam member on said restoring armature positioned to engage, when said auxiliary restoring electromagnet means is energized by an impulse, said second transfer member of the first one of said transfer units only when said last mentioned second transfer member is in its inoperative position so that, when said auxiliary restoring electromagnet means is energized by a starting impulse, said first transfer member of the first one of said transfer units in said bank thereof is moved to operative position thus preparing the operativcness of the next following transfer unit, while when said auxiliary restoring electromagnet means is energized by a resetting impulse after the first transfer member of any other one of said transfer units has been moved to its operative position, the movement of the first transfer member of said first one transfer unit causes release of said first transfer member of said other transfer units from their arrested position.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said transfer units comprises one of said crank levers, respectively, except the last of said transfer units in said bank thereof, and wherein the second transfer member of the first one of said transfer units is normally in its operative position and movable to its inoperative position, a special crank lever being provided having a first arm out of engagement With said first transfer member of said first one transfer unit and a second arm in engagement With said second transfer member of said first one transfer unit, said special crank member being mounted tiltably for moving, when its first arm is moved from normal position, said second transfer member of said first transfer unit to its inoperative position, and an additional transfer means for transmitting movement of any one of said first transfer members except that of said first transfer unit between position of rest and operative position to said first arm of said special crank lever in such a manner that said sec- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,086 10/1952 Graybill et al. 340-468 2,844,686 7/1958 Arthur ZOO-104.1 2,907,983 10/1959 Boswau et a1 200104.l 2,965,739 12/1960 Alexandersso-n 200-1041 THOMAS B, HABECKER, Primary Examiner.

MAX L. LEVY, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION AN INDEPENDENT SWITCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BANK OF CONTACT MEANS EACH INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE BETWEEN A NORMAL AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION; AN ELECTROMAGNET ASSEMBLY HAVING A SINGLE MOVABLE OPERATING ARMATURE AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO ELECTRIC IMPULSES FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY; AN INDEPENDENT MECHANICAL CONTROL TRANSFER ASSEMBLY OPERABLE BY THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE FOR TRANSMITTING SUCH MOVEMENT TO SAID CONTACT MEANS, SAID CONTROL TRANSFER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BANK OF INDIVIDUAL TRANSFER UNITS EACH BEING COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID CONTACT MEANS, RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID TRANSFER UNITS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FIRST TRANSFER MEMBER STATIONARILY MOUNTED AT ONE END AND HAVING AN OPPOSITE END PORTION MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BANK, BETWEEN A POSITION OF REST AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH IT PLACES THE RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED CONTACT MEANS OF SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY IN OPERATIVE POSITION, A SECOND ELONGATED TRANSFER MEMBER STATIONARILY MOUNTED AT ONE END AND HAVING AN OPPOSITE END PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH A PORTION OF SAID END PORTION OF SAID FIRST TRANSFER MEMBER AND MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL WITH SAID BANK OF TRANSFER UNITS BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION AND ALSO BEING MOVABLE, WHEN IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BANK OF TRANSFER UNITS SO AS TO MOVE BY ITS MOVMENT SAID FIRST TRANSFER MEMBER TO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION, AND A CRANK LEVER HAVING A FIRST ARM IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID END PORTION OF SAID FIRST TRANSFER MEMBER AND A SECOND ARM IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID END PORTION OF SAID SECOND TRANSFER MEMBER OF THE NEXT FOLLOWING TRANSFER UNIT IN SAID BANK THEREOF, SAID CRANK LEVER BEING MOUNTED TILTABLY FOR MOVING, WHEN ITS FIRST ARM IS MOVED BY SAID FIRST TRANSFER MEMBER MOVING TO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID SECOND TRANSFER MEMBER OF THE NEXT FOLLOWING TRANSFER UNIT TO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION, AND ACTUATOR MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID MOVABLE ARMATURE AND MOVABLE THEREBY ACROSS THE REGION OF SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND TRANSFER MEMBERS OF SAID TRANSFER UNITS, SAID ACTUATOR MEANS BEING SO SHAPED THAT BY ITS MOVEMENT ONLY THAT SECOND TRANSFER MEMBER IS MOVED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BANK OF TRANSFER UNITS WHICH IS PLACED IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, WHEREBY CONSECUTIVE ENERGIZATION OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET MEANS BY CONSECUTIVE IMPULSES CAUSES CONSECUTIVE TRANSFER UNITS OF SAID BANK THEREOF TO MOVE FROM POSITION OF REST TO OPERATIVE POSITION AND THUS TO PLACE THE RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED CONTACT MEANS CONSECUTIVELY IN OPERATIVE POSITION; AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH SAID CONTROL TRANSFER ASSEMBLY AND ELECTROMAGNET ASSEMBLY, RESPECTIVELY. 